UC Davis students and alumni discuss the lack of good Mexican and Latino food in Davis
By EVELYN SANCHEZ — features@theaggie.org
Davis has a wide array of cultural food that reflects the diverse population of the city. From sushi to bingsu to birria to prosciutto, both the savory and sweet tooth have options for students and community members alike to gravitate toward.
For the Hispanic community, however, this might be harder than it seems. With so many promising stores and restaurants lining downtown advertising quesadillas and tacos, it would be difficult to say that Davis has a lack of Mexican food. However, Davis does have a lack of good Mexican food, according to some members of the community.
Janet Ramos-Ambriz, a UC Davis alumna with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Chicana/o studies, has been living in Davis ever since her undergraduate years and offered her thoughts on the food scene.
“Apart from obviously Taqueria Guadalajara — that’s the only decent place,” Ramos-Ambriz said. “North Guads is the way to go.”
Despite not being associated with the downtown branch of Guads, Taqueria Guadalajara has been widely referred to as the “North Guads” by some students and community members. The Mexican restaurant, located at 640 W Covell Blvd., has an overall 4.6-star rating on Google Reviews, where people’s largest complaint is the line being out the door too often.
Natalie Chrisman, a fourth-year human biology major and Chicana/o studies minor, described Davis’ Mexican food scene as subpar.
“I think it’s not so good,” Chrisman said. “I feel like I’ve never wanted to go to the Mexican restaurants in Davis. If I want to go out to eat, [Mexican restaurants] are not at the top of my list. I’m not gonna pick Mexican food here, because most of the time I’ll be disappointed.”
As a Sacramento native, Chrisman would rather travel out of Davis than spend money on what she considers to be low-quality food.
Cris Lima, a fourth-year physics major, is also not a Northern California native, but is relatively satisfied with the food selection offered in Davis.
“I think for a town like Davis, it’s pretty good,” Lima said. “I’m from [Southern California] where there is a much larger Hispanic population, so it’s kind of a no-brainer that the food up here isn’t going to be as good. But you’d be surprised with what you can find here.”
Lima’s favorite Mexican cuisine is also Taqueria Guadalajara, as well as the Westlake Market on Lake Boulevard.
“There is a poor selection of [Mexican] restaurants,” Bryan Lopez, a Davis alum with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and political science, said. “Specifically, the lack of street tacos and street vendors is sad.”
Street vendors have faced multiple struggles in selling their wares and snacks in Davis’ downtown. Despite being protected by the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, vendors often still face harassment and intimidation by police enforcement, making it harder to bring authentic cuisine to Davis.
While there are many Mexican and Latino restaurants in the Davis area, many students feel as if they are not on par with other dining establishments. Many cite a lack of authenticity as the problem.
With a student population of 25.1% and a city population of 15.2%, Hispanic and Latino students will continue searching for good cultural food.
Money is also an important factor in the equation for many students. Chrisman shared that she carefully weighs the financial value alongside the quality of the food she is purchasing.
“My other problem is that everything in Davis is rather expensive,” Chrisman said. “If I’m going to spend so much on food, then why would I spend it on Mexican food?”
Lopez’s family comes from Guatemala, and searching for Guatemalan food has proven to be even more difficult for him.
“There is none,” Lopez said. “There is absolutely zero Guatemalan food, but there are Guatemalan people. I can’t find Guatemalan food basically anywhere.”
Another hurdle for the Hispanic community is being able to make the food in the first place. Without the resources, the possibilities of feeling at home become even more scarce.
“It is nice that they’re opening a [Guatemalan] grocery store,” Lopez said. “Just because if I want to make my own Guatemalan food, getting the ingredients here is also a nightmare.”
With UC Davis officially declaring itself a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in 2024, the campus community struggles with having their taste buds feel at home. Food is a central element of culture, and despite the lack of Mexican and Latino restaurants claiming to serve authentic cuisine, students at UC Davis will continue their fruitless search for something that tastes like home.
Written by: Evelyn Sanchez — features@theaggie.org
